Yervoy: Side effects, price, uses, and more

Yervoy contains the active ingredient ipilimumab, which is a biologic medication. It’s not available as a biosimilar. (Biologics and biosimilars are drugs made from living cells. Biosimilars are like a generic version of a biologic.)

Yervoy can cause mild or serious side effects that may vary depending on which condition the drug is being used to treat. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Yervoy. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Yervoy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Yervoy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Yervoy. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Yervoy’s prescribing information.

• fatigue (lack of energy)
• diarrhea (see “Side effect details”)
• itching
• rash
• nausea and vomiting
• decreased appetite
• weight loss
• headache
• pain in your muscles, bones, or joints
• fever

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects from Yervoy aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects can include:

• Hepatitis (liver inflammation). Symptoms can include:
  • pain on the right side of your abdomen
  • severe nausea or vomiting
  • unusually dark urine
  • bruising or bleeding more easily than usual
  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
• Serious skin reactions. Symptoms can include:
  • rash
  • itching
  • blistering
  • peeling
  • sores in your nose, mouth, throat, or genital area
• Hormone problems, such as thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary gland disorders. Symptoms can include:
  • weight gain or loss
  • constipation or diarrhea
  • feeling cold or hot
  • extreme fatigue
  • dizziness or fainting
  • hair loss
  • fast heartbeat
  • increased sweating
  • headache
  • sensitivity to light
  • changes in mood or behavior, such as irritability or reduced sex drive
• Type 1 diabetes. Symptoms can include:
  • urinating more often than usual
  • feeling unusually thirsty or hungry
  • blurred vision
• Pneumonitis (lung inflammation). Symptoms can include new or worsening:
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
• Nephritis (kidney inflammation), which can lead to kidney failure. Symptoms can include:
  • blood in your urine
  • producing less urine than usual
  • swollen ankles
  • loss of appetite
• Colitis (inflammation of the large intestine). Symptoms can include:
  • blood or mucus in your stool
  • abdominal cramps or pain
  • diarrhea
  • weight loss
• Infusion-related reactions (see “Side effect details”).
• Allergic reaction (see “Side effect details”).

Yervoy is approved for use in children ages 12 years and older to treat certain forms of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) and colorectal cancer. Yervoy can cause the same kinds of side effects in children as it can in adults. Side effect percentages are also similar in children and adults.

Here’s some detail on certain side effects this drug may cause.

Diarrhea may occur during or after Yervoy treatment. Diarrhea was one of the most common side effects in clinical studies of Yervoy.

With diarrhea, you pass loose or watery stools. Or, you may need to pass stools urgently or more frequently than usual.

If you have diarrhea during Yervoy treatment, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration (low fluid levels). You should also talk with your doctor about the best way to manage diarrhea. They may recommend medication to help stop the condition. They may also recommend taking a rehydration solution to help prevent dehydration.

If your diarrhea is severe or painful, lasts for longer than a couple of days, or contains blood or mucus, see your doctor right away. Diarrhea can sometimes be a symptom of colitis, which is a serious side effect of Yervoy.

For more information about diarrhea and Yervoy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Some people may have infusion-related reactions with Yervoy. Infusion-related reactions can occur during or shortly after you receive a drug by intravenous (IV) infusion. Infusion-related reactions were uncommon in clinical studies of Yervoy.

Infusion-related reactions may cause symptoms such as:

Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms during or shortly after your Yervoy infusion. Your infusion may need to be slowed down or stopped temporarily until your symptoms have eased. If you have a severe infusion-related reaction to Yervoy, you may need to stop treatment permanently.

For more information about infusion-related reactions with Yervoy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Yervoy can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Yervoy, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

As with all medications, the cost of Yervoy can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan and other factors such as your treatment plan and the location where you receive infusions.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Yervoy, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. A program called BMS Access Support is available from Yervoy’s manufacturer, which offers savings options and other resources for people with and without insurance.

Generic or biosimilar version: Yervoy is a biologic medication that’s only available in brand-name form. It’s not available as a biosimilar. (Like generics, biosimilars can be cheaper than the drug they’re based on.)

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Yervoy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved Yervoy to treat breast cancer. But the drug may be prescribed off-label for this use. (Off-label drug use means using a drug for a purpose other than what it’s been approved for by the FDA.) Several ongoing studies, such as this one, are investigating the effectiveness of Yervoy for treating different forms of breast cancer.

If you’re interested in taking Yervoy for breast cancer, talk with your doctor.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system attack the cancer. Yervoy specifically increases the activity of white blood cells called T cells. This helps the T cells attack the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy drugs work by killing cells that divide rapidly, including cancer cells.

For more information, see the “How Yervoy works” section.

Yes, you’ll likely need to have lab tests done before you receive each dose of Yervoy. This is to make sure it’s safe for you to use the drug. Your doctor may also order lab tests if you have symptoms of certain side effects during treatment with Yervoy.

Examples of lab tests your doctor may order include:

If any of these lab tests show a problem, your doctor will decide if it needs to be treated. They can also determine if your next dose of Yervoy should be delayed or if you should stop treatment completely.

• the type of cancer you’re using Yervoy to treat
• your body weight (Yervoy dosage is described in milligrams [mg] per kilogram [kg] of body weight)
• other treatments you may be having with Yervoy
• if you have certain side effects

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Yervoy comes as a liquid solution in single-dose vials. It’s available in one strength: 5 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). The vials come in two sizes:

• 10 mL, which holds 50 mg of the drug
• 40 mL, which holds 200 mg of the drug

Yervoy is given by intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an injection into a vein that’s given over a period of time. Yervoy infusions last about 30 minutes. You’ll have these infusions at your doctor’s office, a hospital, or an infusion center.

Yervoy is used in two different ways for melanoma (a type of skin cancer). The recommended dosage depends on the form of melanoma being treated.

For the following types of melanoma, the recommended dosage is 3 mg/kg of body weight:

• unresectable (can’t be removed with surgery)
• metastatic (has spread to other parts of the body)

This dosage is typically given once every 3 weeks for up to four doses. Each infusion lasts for about 30 minutes.

For melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, Yervoy is used as adjuvant (add-on) treatment after you’ve had surgery to remove the cancer. Adjuvant treatment reduces the risk of the cancer coming back after the surgery. The recommended dosage for this use is 3 mg/kg of body weight, given once every 3 weeks for up to four doses. After this, the drug is typically given once every 12 weeks for up to 4 more doses.

Yervoy’s recommended dosage for advanced renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer) is 1 mg/kg of body weight. This is typically given once every 3 weeks for up to four doses.

The recommended dosage of Yervoy for metastatic colorectal cancer is 1 mg/kg of body weight. This is typically given once every 3 weeks for up to four doses.

Yervoy’s recommended dosage for liver cancer is 3 mg/kg of body weight. This is typically given once every 3 weeks for up to four doses.

The recommended dosage of Yervoy for non-small cell lung cancer is 1 mg/kg of body weight. This is typically given once every 6 weeks for up to 2 years.

Yervoy’s recommended dosage for malignant pleural mesothelioma is 1 mg/kg of body weight. This is typically given once every 6 weeks for up to 2 years.

Yervoy’s recommended dosage for esophageal cancer is 1 mg/kg of body weight. This is typically given once every 6 weeks for up to 2 years.

Yervoy’s recommended dosages for children with melanoma or colorectal cancer are the same as the usual dosages for adults (see the previous sections).

It’s important to keep your appointments for your Yervoy infusions. If you miss an appointment, call your doctor’s office right away to reschedule. To help make sure you don’t miss an appointment, try setting a reminder on your phone.

It depends on the type of cancer being treated.

For non-small cell lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma, Yervoy is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Yervoy is safe and effective for you, you may receive the drug for up to 2 years.

For adjuvant (add-on) treatment of melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, you might have up to 8 infusions of Yervoy. (Adjuvant treatment reduces the risk of the cancer coming back after the surgery.)

But for the following types of cancer, you’ll have up to only four doses of Yervoy:

• melanoma that’s metastatic or unresectable (can’t be removed with surgery)
• kidney cancer
• liver cancer
• colorectal cancer

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Yervoy to treat certain conditions. Yervoy may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use means using a drug for a purpose other than what it’s been approved for by the FDA.

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat certain forms of melanoma (a type of skin cancer). Specifically, it’s approved to treat:

• Melanoma that is unresectable (can’t be removed with surgery) or metastatic (has spread to other parts of the body). Yervoy is approved for this use in adults and children ages 12 years and older.
• Melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes, which must be bigger than 1 millimeter. Yervoy is approved for this use in adults who have had surgery to remove the melanoma and affected lymph nodes. The drug is used as an adjuvant (add-on) treatment for this type of melanoma. Adjuvant treatment reduces the risk of the cancer coming back after the surgery.

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma, which is a type of kidney cancer. “Advanced” means that the cancer has spread from your kidneys to other parts of your body.

Yervoy is approved for use in adults with kidney cancer that’s considered to be intermediate or poor risk. The risk level relates to the likelihood of recovery from the cancer. The risk is based on several factors, including your hemoglobin and calcium levels.

For this purpose, Yervoy is used with a drug called nivolumab (Opdivo) in people who haven’t had past treatment for their cancer.

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat certain forms of colorectal cancer (bowel cancer) in adults and children ages 12 years and older. Specifically, it’s approved for colorectal cancer that:

• has spread from your bowel to other parts of your body or cannot be removed with surgery
• has certain genetic changes called microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) mutations

MSI-H and dMMR are genetic mutations (abnormal changes in gene) that can cause certain types of cancer. These mutations stop genetic material in your body from correcting its own mistakes. Typically, these mistakes are made when the genes are copied to make new proteins or cells.

For this purpose, Yervoy is used with nivolumab (Opdivo).

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It’s used for HCC that has spread to other parts of your body or can’t be removed with surgery.

Yervoy can be given as the first treatment for this type of cancer, or after you’ve previously taken sorafenib (Nexavar). It’s given with nivolumab (Opdivo) for this use.

• NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body and meets two criteria. The NSCLC must test positive for a protein called PD-L1. It must also not have certain genetic changes called EGFR* or ALK* mutations. For this purpose, Yervoy is used with a drug called nivolumab (Opdivo) as a first treatment for the metastatic cancer.
• NSCLC that is metastatic or recurrent (has come back after past treatment) and doesn’t have EGFR or ALK mutations. For this use, Yervoy is used with nivolumab and two cycles of chemotherapy containing platinum and another drug. Yervoy is used as a first treatment for the metastatic or recurrent cancer.

* EGFR stands for epidermal growth factor receptor. ALK is short for anaplastic lymphoma kinase.

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat a type of cancer called malignant pleural mesothelioma in adults. This is cancer of the pleura, which is the lining of tissue around the lungs and chest wall.

Yervoy is used when the cancer can’t be removed with surgery. For this purpose, Yervoy is used with nivolumab (Opdivo) as a first treatment.

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat a type of esophageal cancer called esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. It’s used for cancer that:

• cannot be removed with surgery
• is advanced or metastatic, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body (either near or farther away from the esophagus)
• tests positive for a protein called PD-L1

Yervoy is used as a first treatment for this purpose, in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo).

Yervoy is FDA approved to treat melanoma and colorectal cancer in children ages 12 years and older. It’s used in the same situations as described above for adults.

Yervoy is used with nivolumab (Opdivo) to treat certain forms of the following types of cancer:

Both Yervoy and nivolumab are immunotherapy drugs that help your immune system attack the cancer. These drugs work in slightly different ways to affect your immune system.

For kidney, colorectal, and liver cancer, Yervoy is used with nivolumab for the first four doses. You’ll be given separate infusions of each drug on the same day, once every 3 weeks. After this, you’ll likely continue treatment with nivolumab alone.

For NSCLC, you’ll receive Yervoy once every 6 weeks and nivolumab once every 2 or 3 weeks for up to 2 years. For certain types of NSCLC, you’ll also have two sessions of chemotherapy containing platinum and another drug.

For pleural mesothelioma, you’ll receive Yervoy once every 6 weeks and nivolumab once every 3 weeks for up to 2 years.

For esophageal cancer, you’ll receive Yervoy every 6 weeks and nivolumab once every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks, for up to 2 years.

With certain cancers, such as those that Yervoy treats, cancer cells can sometimes avoid being attacked by your immune system. Yervoy helps white blood cells called T cells attack the cancer cells.

Specifically, Yervoy’s mechanism of action is to block a protein called CTLA-4 that’s found on the surface of the T cells. This protein usually helps control and reduce the T cells’ activity. By blocking CTLA-4, Yervoy allows the T cells to become more active and kill the cancer cells. This helps shrink the cancer.

Yervoy starts working soon after you have your first treatment. But you may not notice the drug working. Your doctor will typically order various tests during your treatment to see if Yervoy is working for you.

Yervoy isn’t known to interact with alcohol. But if you have certain side effects from Yervoy, drinking alcohol could make these worse. Examples of these side effects include nausea, headache, and diarrhea.

In addition, Yervoy can sometimes damage your liver, and this could be worsened by drinking alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to consume during your treatment with Yervoy.

Yervoy isn’t known to interact with other medications, supplements, or foods. However, this doesn’t mean that interactions aren’t possible.

Before taking Yervoy, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Yervoy isn’t safe to use while pregnant. The drug hasn’t been studied during pregnancy. But based on the way the drug works, Yervoy may harm a fetus if used during pregnancy.

If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor will give you a pregnancy test before you receive Yervoy. This is to make sure that you’re not pregnant before you start treatment. During treatment, you should use an effective form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. See the following “Yervoy and birth control” section for more details.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely recommend a treatment other than Yervoy for your cancer.

Yervoy isn’t safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Yervoy.

Note: The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.

If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use an effective form of birth control while you’re receiving treatment with Yervoy. Also, you should keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose of Yervoy.

Yervoy’s manufacturer hasn’t stated whether males taking Yervoy need to use birth control. If you’re sexually active with a partner who could become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on whether you need to use birth control during your Yervoy treatment.

Other drugs are available that can treat the same types of cancer as Yervoy. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Yervoy, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat melanoma include:

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
• targeted therapy drugs, such as:
  • binimetinib (Mektovi)
  • cobimetinib (Cotellic)
  • dabrafenib (Tafinlar)
  • encorafenib (Braftovi)
  • trametinib (Mekinist)
  • vemurafenib (Zelboraf)
• talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic)

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat kidney cancer include:

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
  • avelumab (Bavencio)
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• targeted therapy drugs, such as:

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• targeted therapy drugs, such as:
  • bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • cetuximab (Erbitux)
  • encorafenib (Braftovi)
  • panitumumab (Vectibix)
  • ramucirumab (Cyramza)
  • regorafenib (Stivarga)
  • ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap)

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat liver cancer include:

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
  • atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• targeted therapy drugs, such as:
  • bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • cabozantinib (Cabometyx)
  • lenvatinib (Lenvima)
  • ramucirumab (Cyramza)
  • regorafenib (Stivarga)
  • sorafenib (Nexavar)

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
  • atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
  • durvalumab (Imfinzi)
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• targeted therapy drugs, such as:
  • bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • crizotinib (Xalkori)
  • ceritinib (Zykadia)
  • lorlatinib (Lorbrena)
  • entrectinib (Rozlytrek)
  • everolimus (Afinitor)
  • ramucirumab (Cyramza)

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma include:

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• targeted therapy drugs, such as:

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat esophageal cancer in certain situations include:

• other immunotherapy drugs, such as:
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• trastuzumab (Herceptin)
• cisplatin and fluorouracil
• paclitaxel
• docetaxel

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.